Developing-plate holder.



A. B. SHEPPARD. DEVELOPING PLATE HOLDER. APPLICATION nun mm. 5, 1007.

Patented Oct. 13, 1908. z sums-51112121 1.

a [1 [W n 11D A. B. SHEPPARD.

DEVELOPING PLATE HOLDER. APPLICATION FILED D120. 5, 1907.

Patented Oct. 13,1908.

- 3 MJiZ'nes 3 es.

AULEY B. SHEPPARD, OF PITTSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA.

DEVELOPING-PLATE HOLDER.

Specification of Letter. Patent.

Patented Oct. 13, 1908.

Application filed nmmbusfibm. Serial No. 405,134.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, AULEY B. SHEPPARD, a resident of Pittsburg, in the county of Allegheny and State of Penns lvania, have invented certain new and use 111 Improvements in Developing-Plate Holders, of which the' following is a specification.

The rimary object of this invention is to provide for the developin fixing, washing, and drying of photograp ic plates without removing them from the camera plateholder in which they are exposed.

The invention is embodied in a plateholder of usual exterior proportions adapted for use in cameras of ordinary.construction.

A further object is to so construct the plate-holder that all light is excluded therefrom during the developing )rocess, dispensing with the necessity of oing this work in a dark room.

A further purpose is to so construct the fluid channels of the holder that they may i he fully opened and dried out.

Other nnprovements are the devices for securing the plate within the holder; the shutter mechanism for the slide passa es; and means for opening and closing the fl uid passages.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view of n the plate-holder. Fig. 2 is a top plan view thereof, and Fig. 3 a bottom view. Fig. 4 is a vertical central cross-sectional view. Fig. 5 isascctional plan view,broken, on line 55 of Fig. 6. Fig. (3 is a vertical sectional view, enlarged, similar to Fig. 1, the detachable channel inclosing portions being shown away from the main frame. Figs. 7, 8, and 9 are cross-sectional views taken on lines 77. H8 and 9-!). respectively, of Fig. (5. l igs. 5, S and 9 represent the detachable frame parts in position on the main frame. Figs. 4, T, S and 9 showone of the slides removed.

The main frame of the holder consists of the bottom channel member 2, to the ends of which are secured the upright side channels 3, the latter being united near their upper ends by the horizontal channel member 4, while above the latter is the top or head 5. At each end of head 5 are the opposite depending flanges 6. The holder 1s of usual double constrluation, its interior being divided by partition Twith slots in members 2, 3 aml l to receive projections 7 on the edges of the partition, the projections being bent over after being passed through theslots,

as shown. The upper ends of the rear face of channels 3 are turned inwardly as indicated at 8 to connect with channel 4.

Secured to the opposite sides of the frame composed of parts 2, 3, 4 and 6 are the face plates or frames 9 which form flat and smooth outer faces for the holder. These face frames are spaced outwardly from said parts by the thin spacing stri s 10 which are only slightly thicker than s ides 11 and form passageways for said slides which are confined and move between the outer faces of channels 3and the inner aces of frames 9 as will be understood, there being a corresponding space between bottom member 2 and the lower portion of each of frames 9 to receive the lower extremity of the slides when fully inserted, thus completely closing the late-holding cavity. Slots 1; in head 5 orm a continuation of these passages, so that the slides are simply raised and lowered through the top of the plate-holder. The spacing strips are narrower than the channel members and the bars of frame 3 and thus form slots or spaces at the outer edges of the frame which correspond with the passageways for slides 11. By referring to Fig. 9 it will be seen that strips 10 and frames 3 extend to the top of head flanges 6. thus securing together said flanges and sides 3' of-channels 3, which simply meet and do not overlap. Secured in the bottom of each of the plate cavities is a support 13 notched between its edges at 1+ to receive the lower extremity of the plate and having the upwardly ex tending rearwardly sloping edges 15 which direct the plate into notches l-t when being inserted. A similar holding device 16 is arranged in inverted position in the upper portion of the plate cavity and is movable through a slot in the upper channel member 4. said device being secured to a stem 17 projecting through head 5 and carrying knob IS, with a spring 17' on the stem for holding the device normally depressed in plate-holding position. \Vhcn inserting or removing a plate, the holding device is simply raised against the pres ure of the spring so lhat the plate may be moved inward or outward as required; the downwardly and inwardly tapering edges 1 centering the upper portion of the plate in the cavity in the same manner that the lower portion thereof is brought to position by sloping edges 15. thus holding the plates out of contact with partition and slides 11. With the plate-confinin devices thus arranged, each plate is so he d within the holder as to assume the identical position in the camera occupied by the ground glass when focusing. This is a 'well recognized principle in the, construction and o eration of cameras and plate holders, an -hencethe improved holder is adapted for use in any of the ordinary styles of plate cameras. A further-advantage in thus holding the plates is that theyare pre-- vented from freezin or stickin' due to capillary attraction, to the partition; also the developing and other fluids pass freely around the plates, likewise'the air when the plates are drying. v v To exclude light when the slidesare' removed, I employ a relativelythin spring metal strip or plate 19 which isarranged horizontal y in the space between the end lugs .6 of head 5, plate 19 having'its opposite sides or edges disposed downwardly as indicated at 20 and curved or looped from one end to the other at 20 to grasp and hold;

the horizontal shutter strips 21, formed pref crably of rubber. Normally, sides 20 of plate 19 hold the shutters rejected outwardly against the slides when the ,latter are in place, and extending across and closing the slideways when the slides are removed, as clearly shown in Fi 7. \Vhen the slides are withdrawn, as at t e left hand side of Fig. 7, the shutters enter the outward bulge 9' in face frame 9, thus more -'efl'ectually closing theslideways. Said -bul operate to wed the plate holder in 5::

-camera-and exc ude light, as will be understood by those .sln'lled'in the art.

The outer open faces of channel members 2 and 3 are closed by the bottom member 22 and the opposite side members 23 and 23,

o 23' and 23 zi' e prefera each of these members being of channel form with its side dis osed inwardly. Sides ly hinged to the lower extremities of thebbttom member 22, so that j thesides may be turned outward and released from channels 2 and 3.- Members 22, 23, and

23' are of such size that their edges enter the outer portions offthe'spacesformed by s acin strips 10 between channels 3 and ace p ates 9,-thus closing the channels and forming fluid passages around the lower edge and upwardl alo the opposite edges of the plate-hol er. e upper ends of members 23, 23 carry the inwardly' projecting spring clips 24 which pass over the top face of head 5 and are perforated to. engage studs.

24 projected from the head, thus securely fastenin together the parts. The inner walls o these channels are'perforated, as shown, so that the developingand other fluids have free access to the plate-confining cavities of the holder. j

In practice, the improved platesholder moved om the camera and may if desired be immediately immersed in a developing solution contained in the can-like tray or pan A, the fluid entering through opening which it flows upwardly through the side channels 3.and the perforations thereof into the plate cavity. A artitiou 26 in each of the side channels de ects the fluid into the around in the channels. j

Inlet openin s 25 are closed by slide 27 until after the ower end of the plate-holder has entered the developing tray, the slide and out of register with apertures 25 With the detachable ortions of the channels in the inverted channel section 2' secured 'in is actuated by rod 28 movable vertically in channel 23, with its upper end projecting thereabove and carrying knob 28, the adjustable nut 28" on the rod limiting the o the and connects with one arm of hellcrank 29, -the lever being. fulcrumed in bracket 30 .carried by channel 23, with its fixed stop 33 and stop 34 on the rod holds the rod normally depressed, with slide 27 closin the fluid entrances 25. Knob 28' is threa ed on rod 28 and carries the dependup rend of channel 23, so that when the rod is withdrawn against the pressure of spring 32 to open sli turned to place lug slot 36, thus holding sition.

Between the upper channel 4 and head 5 is and't plate-holding devices operate. This confining cavity through apertures in channel 4., and hence the various developing and washing be utilized as an inlet for the washing fluid after the fplates have been developed and fixed, the uid entering through the tubular U-shaped extension 37 ,on head 5, having the hose or spigot, or he most convenient. A

Part 37 constitutes a convenient handle d a funnel, as may be and by which it may be hun Zup with.tlie slides removed when drying e plates and at other times when not'in use.

'carrying the exposed plate or plates is re- 25 in the bottom detachable member 22, from plate cavity, preventing it from coursing having apertures 27' which are moved in position, the slide bears upwardly against channel 2 and is positively held. Slide 27 u wardmove'ment thereof. The lower end other arm connected by link 31 with slide 27. ,A coiled spring 32 on rod 28 between ing lug 35 which moves in a slot 36 in the e 27, the'knob may be 35 out of re ister with the rod in .e evated 'pothe space or chamber in which shutters 21 e space has free communication with the platefluids have free ingress and egress through all four walls of the plate-confining cavity. Also, this top space or chamber may plugged .inlet 38 adapted to"con'nect with a' with which the plate-holder may be readily raised and lowered in the developingpan,

The plates are not removed from the holder from the time they are first inserted until after they have been exposed, fully de veloped, and dried, when they are ready for printing. All of the work may be carried on in the open and without having access to a dark room. \Vith the outer portions of the bottom and side fluid )assages. removable, the parts may be separated and opened up and fully cleansed and dried. Also, the detachable connections between the several parts provide simple and efficient means for assembling the same. i

As before indicated, the whole device is of such form as regards thickness and other proportions as to be adapted for use whereever plate-holders of usual construction are employed. The improvement is one of the series of appliances which I have devised for practicing plate photography without the use of a dark room, the developing plateholder here shown and described being adapted at its flat faces 9 to make light-excluding connection with my improved plate package forming the subjectmatter of an application filed October 31, 1905, Serial No.

2855338. By the use of these two appliances the plates may be transferred at any time or place from the package in which they are purchased to the plateholders and after being exposed may if desired be immediately developed, dried. and printed, all of which work may proceed in daylight.

As I believe I am the first to provide a camera plate-holder in which the plates may be exposed, fully developed, and prepared for printing, all without being removed from the holder; also the first to provide a holder by means of which all of these operations may be accomplished outside of a dark room; I do not limit myself to the structural details herein described and shown, as the holder may be variously constructed and embodied without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

I claim 1. A plate holder consisting of a frame, and fluid channels extending along the edges of the frame with openings at different points along the channels for the passage of liquid into and out of the channels.

2. A plate holder consisting of a frame, channels extending along the side edges of the frame with openings at various points for passing liquid from the channels to the interior of the frame and vice versa, and a channel at the bottom edge of the holder with which the side channels comnnmicate.

3. A plate holder consisting of a frame, channels extending along the side edges of the frame, and a channel at the bottomedge of the frame communicating with the side channels with perforated walls separating said channels from the interior of the frame.

4. A plate-holder consisting of a frame, a

horizontal channel at the lower end thereof 'and vertical channels at opposite ed s thereof open to the horizontal channel w th communication between the channels and the plate-holding cavity, and means for ad mitting fluid to said channels.

' 5. A plate-holder consisting of a frame having a channelextending along the lower edge thereof, the channel communicating with the plate-confining cavity and having openings through whic fluid mypptpr, a closure for the inlet openings, and operating means for the last mentioned closureextending to the upper ortion of the holder.

6. A plate-hol er consisting of a. frame having a channel at the lower'end communicating with the plate-confining cavity and openings through which fluid may enter, a

slide for closing said openings, a vertically movable spring-held rod extending to the upper portion of the holder, and an operative connection between the rod and said slide.

8., A plate-holder consisting of. a frame having fluid channels communicating with the plate-confining cavity, and detachable members forming walls for the channels.

S). A plate-holder consisting of a frame having fluid channels at the edges thereof communicating with the plate-confining cavity, and detachable members hinged together and forming walls for the channels.

10. A plate-holder consisting of aframe having fluid channels along the bottom and upright edges thereof communicating with the plate-confining cavity, a bottom member, opposite upright side members secured to the bottom, member, said members detachably connecting with the frame and forming walls for the channels thereof.

.1 l. A plate-holder having channels extending along the bottom andlupright edges thereof which communicate with the interior of the holder, a bottom member, opposite upright side members hinged to the ends of the bottom member, said members detachably engaging the frame and forming Walls for. the channels, and means for securing the upright ends of the side members to the upright portion of the frame.

12. A plate-holder consisting of a frame having bottom and upright side channels communicating with the interior of the holder, a bottom member, upright. side m m having its bottom ed e formed of a channel having its open side is osed outwardly, the channel forming a fluid passage which communicates with the plate-confining: cavity, and a detachable member closing the open side of the channel.

' the plate-confining cavity for 1-1. A plate-holder consisting of a frame having its bottom and side ed formed of channel's havin their open sides disposed outwardly, thelannels communicating with tpeassing fluid rs for closthereinto, and detachable mem ingthe open faces of the channels.

15. A plate-holder consisting of a frame havinga'n opening for the passa e of afluid, a closure for the openin the %)ottom and sideedges, of the frame fin-med of channels having their open. sides disposed outwardly, channel members havin their open sides disposed inwardly and detachably connecting with the channels of the frame and forming the outer walls of fluid passages inclosed by the channels, the latter communicating with the interior of the holder.

16. A plate-holder; consisting of a frame having openings at'its'opposite sides for the a partition dividing the interior of the frame into two com artments, the bottom and u right ed s o -the fra 'e formed of channe havingt eir open sid s disposed outwardly,

facing members for the opposite sides of the frame secured to but spaced from thechannels, and detachable, channel-like members having their open sides disposed'iinwardly, the e gas of said channel members entering 'bdween the channels of the frame and the.

facing members for inclosing fluid passages which communicate-with the interior of the holder. V

17. A plate-holder consisti of a framehaving opposite openings for t e passage of lates, closures for the openings, a partitionorming two plate com artments: within the holder, the bottom an sideedges of the frame formed of channels having their open sides disposed outwardl facing members for opposite sides of theframe secured to. but spacedaway from said channels, bottom ceases and opposite sidechimnel members hinged together with their open sides: disposed inwardly and detachably connecting with the frame, the edges of the detachable members entering between the channels of the frame and facing members for inclosin fluid passages which communicate with t e interior oftheholder.

18. A plate-holder consisting of a frame 0 en. at its opposite sides for the passage of p ates, a partition dividing the interiorof. the frame into two compartments the bottom and side edges of the frame formed of channels having their open sides disposed outwardly, facing members secured to bu" spacedaway, from the channels, plate-com fining shdesmovable in theinner portions of the s aces between the. channels and' facing mem rs, and detachable members having their edges entered in the outer portions 01 the spaces between the channels and facing members to inclose fluid passa'geswhich com municate with the interior of the holder.

18.. The combination with aplate-holder, of a fork-like device within the u per portion ofthe plate-confining space an ada ted to embrace the edge of a plate and ho d it away from the walls of said s ace, a stem for said. device movable throng the u per end of the holder, and. a s ring confine on thestem for holding the orked device nor- 1 many projectedinward.

passage of plates, a closure for the opening, p

l partitioned centrallyan'd open at its oppositefaces forthepassage and exposure of plates,

slides closing the open faces, and a two 20. late-holder consisting of a. frame branch fluid inlet communicating with the frame interior and projecting'from the up v per-end of the holder.

21. A plate-holder consisting-of a frame having'an opening for the assage an'd ex posure of a plate, a closure or the opening a notched support in the lower portion'ofj the holder for confining the lower edge of a? plate with faces thereof out ofcontact with the up 1' edge of the plate. y.

In te zaimon whereof I aflix my signature inpresence 0 two witnesses.

any

the walls of the plate cavity, and a movable: device for embracing and similarly 

